of Canterbury, to request Parliament to pass a law prohibiting the "Mormons" from preaching in the British nation, stating that they had baptized fifteen hundred persons, many of whom were members of the Church of England. But the Archbishop, knowing well that the laws of England permitted religious freedom, replied that the petitioners, if they had the worth of souls at heart as much as they valued ground where hares, foxes and hounds ran, they would not lose so many of their flock. The other brethren also met with remarkable success. The field was ripe, ready for the harvest, and thousands of the house of Israel were soon gathered into the fold. At a conference of the Church in the British Isles held in October, 1840, there was reported a Church membership of about 4,000 souls, and in the meantime a number had emigrated to the United States. The First Emigration to the United States In June, 1840, a company of forty Saints sailed in the ship _Britannia_ from Liverpool for New York, being the first Saints to leave England for Zion. The Mission to Palestine At the general conference of the Church held in Nauvoo, Hancock County, April 6-8, 1840, Elder Orson Hyde, who had not departed for England with the other apostles, was appointed to take a mission to Palestine to dedicate there the land for the gathering of the Jews. Elder John E. Page, who had also tarried at home, was called to accompany him. While addressing the congregation on the 6th, Elder Hyde remarked that it had been prophesied, some years before, that he had a great work to perform among the Jews; and that he had recently been moved by the Spirit of the Lord to visit that people, and gather all the information he could find respecting their movements, hopes and aspirations, and communicate them to the Church. He expressed the desire to visit the Jews in New York, London and Amsterdam, on his way to the field of his appointment. It was moved and carried that he proceed at once on his mission and that Elder John E. Page be given proper credentials and accompany him. On the 15th of April, Elder Hyde left Nauvoo for Jerusalem. Working his way across the country to New York, he sailed, after some delays, for Liverpool, on his way to Palestine, Saturday, February 13, 1841. He traveled alone, as Elder John E. Page had failed to make the journey. Other Missionary Appointments